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12.141 General Social Features West Bank No. of Households (mid-2012) 482,000 Type of household (%)(2010) One person 4.2 (2014) Nuclear family: 88.7 (2010) Extended family: 13.4 Type of household (%) – mid-2014 Urban: Rural: Camp: Average household size (persons) - 2013: 4.9 Average housing density (persons/room) 2013 1.5

Gaza 254,000 2.2 84.4 16

Marriages 2010 (%): - to a Relative - No relation Polygamous marriages – 2004 (%): Median age at first marriage (women, 2013) Median age at first marriage (men, 2013) Marriages registered (Sharia & churches, 2013) Crude Marriage Rate (2013): Divorces registered (2013): Crude Divorce Rate (2013):

25.6 57.6 3.0 20.2 25.2 25,388 9.3 4,095 1.5

30.1 52.2 4.4 20.1 24 17,310 10.2 3,019 1.8

27.2 55.6 3.5 20.2 years 24.7 years 46,698 9.4 7,114 1.6

People aged 65+ (mid-2014)

3.2%

2.4%

2.9%

5.8 1.8

WBGS (Average) 736,000 3.4 87.2 9.3 73.9% 16.7% 9.4% 5.2 1.6

Sources: PCBS, Housing & Housing Conditions Statistics; PCBS, Palestinian Population Status in Palestine 2014, July 2014.

 Religion Muslims: Sunni Islam, representing Shafe’i, Hanafi, Hanbali and Malki schools: 98+% Christians:* 51,710 people or 1.37% of the Palestinian population (in comparison: Christians make up 30% of the population in Lebanon, 10% in Egypt, 5% each in Syria and Sudan, 3% in Jordan and 1.66% in Israel). - Of the total Christians, 43.4% live in the Bethlehem Governorate, 24.7% in Ramallah, 17.9% in Jerusalem, 5.9% in Gaza, 5.7% in Jenin, 1.4% in Nablus, and less than 1% each in Jericho, Tubas & Tulkarm. - Christians comprise 90% of the population in Taybeh, over 60% in Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Zabadeh and Jifna, 58.7% in Aboud, and 50% in Birzeit. In Bethlehem their share is only 28.3%, in Jerusalem 3.12%. - Denominations: Greek Orthodox (40.7%), Latin Catholic (35.7%), Greek Catholic (9.3%), Anglican (6.3%), Lutheran (2.5%), Syrian (2.5%), Coptic (1.6%), and Armenian (1.4%). (Source: Al-Qass Collins, Kassis & Raheb (eds). Palestinian Christians in the West Bank – Facts, Figures and Trends. Bethlehem: Diyar, 2012).  There were 2,815 mosques in the WBGS (1,954 in the West Bank and 861 in Gaza) (PCBS, West Bank Central Governorates Statistical Yearbook 2013, July 2014) and 162 churches (159 in the West Bank and 3 in Gaza). (PCBS, Time Series Statistics on Culture, 2011).

1 Source: PASSIA Desk Diary 2015, Jerusalem: PASSIA, December 2014.

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 The Palestinian Monitoring Group of the Negotiations Affairs Dept. reported 249 attacks or raids on religious sites by Israeli forces or settlers between Jan.-Oct. 2014.

 Culture  In 2013, there were 658 cultural centers in Palestine (WB: 575, GS: 83), most of them in the Nablus governorate with 105, followed by Hebron with 82. Throughout 2013, cultural centers provided 9,400 activities, 71.9% of which were training courses and seminars, followed by performances (15.9%), lectures (10.2%) and exhibitions (2.0%). Some 565,000 people (WB: 466,000, GS: 99,000) participated in these activities (PCBS, Press Release on Palestinian Culture Day, 13 March 2014).  In 2013 there were 13 museums operating in Palestine (WB: 9, GS: 4), attracting some 81,000 visitors (94.1% of them Palestinians), as well as 8 theaters (WB: 5, GS: 3), performing 136 plays (25% for children) in front of some 105,000 visitors (Ibid.).

 Women  Women make up 49.2% of Palestinian society (PCBS, Press Release on International Women’s Day, 2014).  Some 56.9% of all women aged 15+ years are married, 33.2% had never been married, 5.8% were widowed, 1.6% divorced, 2.2% engaged for the first time, and 0.3% were separated (Ibid.).  Of the total 40,292 marriages contracts in 2012, 21.9% were females married before the age of 18 (WB: 20%, GS: 24.6%) (PCBS, Press Release on Palestinian Children’s Day, 5 April 2014).  Females constituted 50.2% of all school students in the scholastic year 2012/2013 (PCBS, Palestine in Figures 2013, 2014). According to Ministry of Education statistics, made up over 59.1% of all students registered at higher education institutes (and 48.1% of those enrolled in MA programs). They further accounted for 59.3% of all graduates (47.1% of the MA graduates).  In 2014, of the illiterate Palestinians 5.9% were women, 1.6% men (PCBS, Press Release on International Women’s Day, 2014).  In 2013, female enrollment in higher education was higher than that of young males, and more women (12.2%) than men (8.9%) aged 15-29 years held a university degree. 3.0% of males in this age group and 1.5% of females had not completed any educational stage (PCBS, Press Release on International Youth Day, August 2014).  Despite the high and successful secondary school enrolment of women, which generally correlates

positively with female work, women’s labor force participation (15+ years) remains low, accounting for only 19.7% of the formal labor force (19% in the WB, 20.8% in Gaza), making it one of the lowest in the world. As of June 2014, 39.4% of the female labor force was unemployed (males: 22.6%), most of them (68.1%) in the 20-24 years age group (PCBS, Labor Force Survey Report Series, Q22014).

 Of the women outside the labor force, 67.8% did not participate due to housekeeping and 28.7% due to studying/training, resulting in a great loss of economic potential (PCBS, Labor Force Survey Report Series, Q2-2014).

 Employment of women is concentrated in services (55.6%, mostly in public administration) and in agriculture (21.8% often as unpaid family helpers) (Ibid.).  The vast majority of the female labor force (59.8%) were wage employees, 20.4% unpaid family members, 18.2% self-employed and 1.6% employers (Ibid.).  Of the working women, 19.6% are from rural areas, 19.4% from urban areas and 21.6% from refugee camps. (Ibid.).  In terms of political participation, there were 12.9% female PLC members in 2006 (compared to 5.7% in 1996), mainly due to the quota system used. (PCBS, Women and Men in Palestine, 2006). In

2 Source: PASSIA Desk Diary 2015, Jerusalem: PASSIA, December 2014.

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comparison, the average proportion of women in parliaments in the Middle East/North Africa was 16% in 2013 (World Bank data on Social Development, http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/1.5). Women comprise 21% of the total local authority members in 2012 (PCBS, Press Release on International Women’s Day, 2014).

 Only one of 18 PLO Executive Committee members, 5 of 22 ministers and only one of 16 governors (Ramallah/Al-Bireh) are female. In 2013, females represented 40.6% of total employees in the public sector, but only about 4% occupy assistant undersecretary positions in PA ministries (PCBS, Press Release on International Women’s Day, March 2011 and 2014).

 Women represent only 26.8% of student council members, 27.3% of the Dental Association members, 26.2% of the journalists, 13.6% of the Medical Association members, 4.3% of the PA’s ambassadors (Ibid.), 15.2% of the judges (PCBS, Crime and Victimization Statistics, 2013), 15.6% of public prosecutors and 3.3% of police personnel (PCBS, A Review of Palestinian Justice and Security Sector Data, Aug. 2013).

Percentage of Women Workers in Various Sectors Registered physicians Registered dentists Registered nurses Registered pharmacists PLC members Diplomatic staff (PLO) Legal judges Engineers Journalists Student council members

West Bank 17.8% 28.0% 62.0% 51.8% 15.9%

Gaza Strip 10.9% 25.0% 44.2% 54.0% 12.3%

12.0% 20.1% 18.6%

10.0% 14.6% 14.3%

Total 14.3% 27.2% 52.0% 53.0% 13.6% 4.3% 11.3% 17.9% 17.1% 26.8%

Source: PCBS, Women and Men in Palestine: Issues and Statistics, 2012, Dec. 2012.

 Some 94% of women received ante-natal health care during pregnancy but only 50% received all the tests recommended (PCBS, Women and Men in Palestine, Issues and Statistics, 2013).  52.5% of married women agreed 15-49 used some form of contraceptive (WB: 55.1%, GS: 48.2%) (PCBS, Press Release on International Health Day, 7 July 2014).  As of 2013, 10.1% of all Palestinian households were headed by females (WB: 11.1%, GS: 8.1%) (PCBS, Palestinian Population Status in Palestine 2014, July 2014).

 In 2013, 37% of ever married women in the WBGS where exposed to different types of domestic violence (WB: 29.5%, GS: 51%). Some 34.8% of women in Gaza and 17.8% in the West Bank have been subject to physical abuse (which is above) international average. (PCBS, Women & Men in Palestine: Issues & Statistics, 2013, Nov. 2013).

 Although the Palestinian Authority cancelled Article 340 of the Civil Code (which granted extenuating excuses for murderers on the grounds of honor), the killing of women is still widespread. According to the Women Center for Legal Aid and Counseling, some 16 women were killed in 2014 (as of May) in Palestine, though not all cases were so-called honor crimes (compared to 27 women killed in 2013, 13 in 2012 and 5 in 2011).

3 Source: PASSIA Desk Diary 2015, Jerusalem: PASSIA, December 2014.

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 Children & Youth  In 2013, 2.08 million Palestinian children - about 47.1% of the total population (WB: 45%, GS: 50.6%) - were under the age of 18. Some 14.8% of the children were under the age of 5, 13% between 5-9, 12.2% between 10-14, and 7.1% between 15-17 years. (PCBS, Press Release on Palestinian Children’s Day, 5 April 2014).

 Youth comprises one third (30%) of Palestinian society. In mid-2014, 38.1% of them were between 15-19 years old, 61.9% between 20-29 years (PCBS, Press Release on International Youth Day, Aug. 2014).

 In 2013, 41.6% of youth aged 15-29 years were enrolled in education: 83.6% in the age group of 15-17 years, 47.4% of the 18-22 years old, and 11.2% of those 23-29 years. The dropout rate for youth (15-29 yrs.) was 31.6% (male: 37.1%, female: 25.9%) (Ibid.).  Some 11% of children under five suffer chronic malnutrition (WB: 11.3%, GS: 9.9%), 19.4% anemia (WB: 25.6%, GS: 13.4%), and 3.7% were underweight (WB: 3.8%, GS: 3.5%) (PCBS, Palestinian Children – Issues and Statistics Annual Report, 2013).  Some 51.0% of children aged 12-17 years were exposed to violence by a parent (WB: 45.8%, GS: 59.4%), 69% of them to psychological, 34.4% to physical violence. 22% of children aged 12-17 experienced violence by students or teachers (PCBS, Palestinian Children – Issues and Statistics Annual Report, April 2013).

 In 2013, 3.5% of all children (10-17 years) worked paid or unpaid (6.5% males and 0.3% females; WB: 4.9%: GS: 1.4%). Of these, 56.9% worked for their families as unpaid workers. Most worked in agriculture (38.5% - WB: 42.9%, GS: 12.2%) or commerce, restaurants and hotels (30% - WB: 27.9%, GS: 42.5%). The proportion of children attending school and also working was 1.6% (3.1% males and 0.2% females; WB: 2.5%, GS: 0.3%). In 2013, the average of daily wage for children aged 10-17 was 49.7 NIS. (PCBS, Child Statistics Report on the Eve of Palestinian Children’s Day, 5 April 2013).  In mid-2014, the unemployment rate among youth (15-29 years) totaled 39.5%, with the highest rate in the age group of 20-24 (43.1%) (PCBS, Labor Force Survey, April-June 2014). Among youth graduates the unemployment rate was 55.5%. with the highest rate (71.2%) for graduates in education and teacher training, the lowest (9.9%) among law graduates. In 2013, 22.6% of youth have completed the transition from education to the labor market (i.e., work in stable permanent jobs), while 77.4% have moved out of the labor force, or were unemployed or work in non-permanent jobs. (PCBS, Press Release on International Youth Day, Aug. 2014).

 Emigration  Some 22,000 Palestinians emigrated during the period 2007-2009, not including households that emigrated with all of their members.  About 6.7% of Palestinian households have at least one emigrant member.  Main destinations are Jordan (23.5%), Gulf Countries (20.4%), and the US (21.6%), and main reasons for emigration are education (34.4%), hope to improve living conditions (14.6%), and lack of job opportunities at home (13.7%).  Over 33% of the emigrants hold university and higher degrees.  Some 5.9% of the total WBGS population has had a previous place of residence outside of Palestine (WB: 7.6%, GS: 3.0%).  About 13.3% of persons in the 15-59 age group desire to emigrate, mainly to improve living conditions. Source: PCBS, Migration Survey in the Palestinian Territory, 2010, April 2011).

4 Source: PASSIA Desk Diary 2015, Jerusalem: PASSIA, December 2014.

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12.241 Household & Living Standards  The main source of income for Palestinians is ‘in kind aid’ (31.9% - WB: 13%, GS: 67.8%), followed by public sector salaries (22.7% - WB: 16.9%, GS: 33.7%), private sector wage work (42.3% - WB: 46.1%, GS: 35%), transfers from relatives/friends (16%), cash aid (14.8%), agriculture (14.4%), Israel/settlements (12.9%), self-employment (12.1), insurances/pensions (10.5%), private sector employer (6.5%) and properties/rent (2.2%). (PCBS, Social and Economic Conditions, 2013).  In 2013, 96.9% of WBGS households owned a fridge, 96.8% a TV, 96% a satellite dish, 58.5% a solar heater, 50.5% a computer, 35.7% internet at home, 35.4% a telephone line, 34.6% a microwave, 20.5% a car, 11.6% a home library, 6.7% a clothes dryer, and 1.6% a dish washer (PCBS, Palestinian Population Status in Palestine 2014, July 2014).

 In 2013, 40.3% of the Palestinian households received some kind of assistance (WB: 22.5%, GS: 74%). For 46% of those the source of assistance was UNRWA (WB: 11.5%, GS: 63.6%), followed by ‘relatives/friends/neighbors’ with 23.3% (WB: 47.1%, GS: 11.2%), the Ministry of Social Affairs (19% - WB: 32.9%, GS: 12%), other international agencies (5.1% - WB: 1.7%, GS: 6.9%), religious institutions (2.4%), other PA agencies (1.8%), local civil institutions (1.3%), private sector institutions (0.5%), and municipalities/local councils (0.2%). The main type of assistance was food (45%), followed by school feeding (33.2%), job opportunities (13.7%), vouchers (4.1%), cash (2.3%), and product inputs (1.5%) (PCBS, Social and Economic Conditions, 2013.).

 A quarter of the Palestinian population lives in poverty, with rates in Gaza twice as high as in the West Bank. (World Bank, Gaza: Fact Sheet, September 2014).  In 2013, 80.3% of tenants owned their houses (WB: 80.8%, GS: 79.4%), 8.3% rent it (WB: 8.4%, GS: 8%), and the remainder lives without payment or for work. Some 0.6% of WBGS households live in a villa, 47.3% in a house, 50.7% in an apartment, and 1.4% other units (e.g., tents, rooms, etc.) (PCBS, Palestinian Population Status in Palestine 2014, July 2014).  In 2013, the average housing density was 1.6 persons per room (WB: 1.5, GS: 1.8). About 11% of the households had three persons or more per room (WB: 9.5%, GS: 14%) (PCBS, Palestinian Population Status in Palestine 2014, July 2014).

 Food insecurity – due to low incomes and high food prices - remains at very high levels, with a third of households (33% or 1.6 million people) food insecure (WB: 19%, GS: 57%) already prior to the Gaza War (PCBS/FAO/UNRWA/WFP, “Press Release: Food Insecurity in Palestine Remains High”, 2 June 2014).

5 Source: PASSIA Desk Diary 2015, Jerusalem: PASSIA, December 2014.

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Recommended Research Sources: http://www.pcbs.gov.ps (Statistics on Gender & on Living Standards) http://www.alzaytouna.net/english/books/AmINotaHuman-2-Woman.pdf Abu Libdeh,H., S.Tamari, et al., Survey of the Occupied Territories. Oslo: Norwegian Institute of Social Sciences, 1993. Giacaman, Rita and Penny Johnson, Inside Palestinian Households – Initial Analysis of a Community-based Household Survey. Vol. 1. Birzeit University: Institute of Women’s Studies/Institute for Community and Public Health, 2002. Heiberg, Marianne & Geir Ovensen, (eds.), Palestinian Society. In Gaza, West Bank and Arab Jerusalem - A Survey of Living Conditions, Oslo: FAFO-Report 151, 1993 (http://www.fafo.no/engelsk/pub/index.htm). Ibhais, Hasan, Mariam Itani, Dr. Sami al-Salahat, The Suffering of the Palestinian Woman under the Israeli Occupation, Beirut: Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies & Consultations, 2010. Nakhleh, Khalil & Elia Zureik, eds., The Sociology of the Palestinians. London: Croom Helm, 1980. PCBS, Population, Housing and Establishment Census 2007, Final Results. Ramallah. PCBS, Child Statistics Series (No. 16), Palestinian Children – Issues and Statistics Annual Report, 2013. PCBS, Migration Survey in the Palestinian Territory, 2010, April 2011. PCBS, Women and Men in Palestine: Issues and Statistics, various years. PCBS, Palestinian Family Survey, 2010, May 2011. Al-Qass Collins, Rania, Rifat Odeh Kassis and Mitri Raheb (eds.), Palestinian Christians in the West Bank, Bethlehem: Diyar, 2012. Save the Children UK, Child Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory - 2010 Review, September 2011. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Source: PASSIA Desk Diary 2015, Jerusalem: PASSIA, December 2014.